### Chapter 34: The Lifesaving Trench Coat
"It's no wonder he managed to escape the organization's pursuit for a year… His fighting spirit is truly remarkable," Fujino mused as he watched Numazawa Kiichiro from a distance.
He raised his wooden knife again.
"Let's go!"
This time, Fujino took the initiative.
He dashed forward, lifting his wooden knife high to strike Numazawa Kiichiro on the head.
Numazawa Kiichiro didn't charge forward again.
Instead, he used his dagger to block Fujino's relentless strikes with the wooden knife.
Sparks flew in an instant.
The sparks lit up the forest briefly, then quickly faded, like summer fireflies.
[Warning: Power Card Enhancement has 10 seconds remaining]
As Fujino continued his assault and block, the system's voice suddenly sounded in his ears.
Frowning, he leaped backward, withdrawing from the stalemate.
"It looks like I need to end this quickly," Fujino thought, gripping his wooden knife tightly and focusing on Numazawa Kiichiro's dagger.
Taking a deep breath, he concentrated all his strength into the wooden knife.
"Sky Dragon Flash!"
Fujino shouted softly, rushing forward. His wooden knife swept horizontally, colliding with the dagger Numazawa Kiichiro was using to block.
"Clang!"
The sound of metal breaking the silence in the air.
Numazawa Kiichiro stared in disbelief at the blade glinting under the moonlight, momentarily stunned.
Now!
"Nine-Headed Dragon Slash!"
Seizing the opportunity, Fujino twisted the wooden knife and slashed horizontally at Numazawa Kiichiro again.
The lightweight wooden knife left afterimages as it cut through the air, the sound of slicing air following the blade's tip.
One slash, two slashes, three slashes...
With each strike, Numazawa Kiichiro felt a surge of pain.
Overwhelmed by the agonizing pain, he staggered backward.
Eventually, he could only endure the unbearable pain, kneeling on the ground and struggling while clutching his head.
He slowly raised his gaze to Fujino.
His withered hair fluttered in the wind, his eyes as empty as ancient wells... As if he had accepted his fate.
At this moment, all he wished for was that the masked man in front of him would grant him a quick end.
Bang!
With a muffled thud, Numazawa Kiichiro was knocked unconscious. His body slumped onto the grass, finally achieving a long-awaited peace.
[Congratulations, Host! You have completed the system's wanted mission, earning 100 detective reputation points, a 2 million yen reward, and a system equipment gift pack.]
[The system equipment gift pack has been issued to the warehouse. Please check it yourself.]
The system's voice echoed.
Fujino removed his Batman mask and looked at Numazawa Kiichiro lying on the ground, murmuring, "Just how terrifying was his combat power before? It's so hard to subdue him even with system enhancements…"
Numazawa Kiichiro's strength was far more frightening than Fujino had imagined.
Fortunately, after a year of running and the fact that his dagger had not been maintained, Numazawa Kiichiro showed weaknesses.
Otherwise, he might have been stuck in a deadlock with Numazawa Kiichiro until the system enhancements wore off.
At that point, it was uncertain who would survive.
Thinking of this, Fujino couldn't help but gasp.
[System Equipment Gift Pack: Randomly select one piece of equipment, guaranteed to be purple quality]
Staring at the system equipment gift pack he had just received, Fujino was momentarily stunned.
Coming to his senses, he glanced at the wooden knife he was holding.
The wooden knife in his hand was already a system item and was only blue in quality.
Just the blue quality was powerful enough...
He couldn't imagine how extreme the purple quality would be.
Taking a deep breath, Fujino opened the system gift pack.
Suddenly, streams of light burst forth from the system warehouse.
After a realistic cutscene reminiscent of the Okamoto wooden knife, a black trench coat shimmering with purple light appeared before him.
"A trench coat?"
Fujino looked at the black trench coat that had appeared before him in surprise.
He touched the system interface, and detailed information about the equipment was presented:
**Lifesaving Black Trench Coat:** Made from ordinary materials but subjected to some indescribable enhancement. Though it's made from ordinary materials, it automatically repairs itself after damage and doesn't wrinkle.
- **Appearance:** A black trench coat for adult men
- **Ability:** Can automatically repair itself after damage. Its primary effect is lifesaving. Although it cannot block ordinary attacks, it will automatically activate the lifesaving effect when a fatal or severe injury is about to occur, absorbing the impact of one such attack. After activation, the lifesaving effect will be disabled until the trench coat has repaired itself and can be activated again.
Fujino took out the trench coat and shook it.
His first impression was that it was very lightweight and didn't seem much different from a normal trench coat... Moreover, it felt like it was made from ordinary materials.
"Can this thing really save my life?"
Fujino wondered, doubtful.
Was the system trying to deceive him?
Cursing silently, he took out the broken dagger he had just confiscated from Numazawa Kiichiro from the system space.
Fujino raised the dagger and made a tentative cut on the sleeve of the trench coat.
Szzz!
With a tearing sound, a cut appeared on the sleeve of the trench coat.
But within moments, under his gaze, the wound began to heal...
At the same time, a light curtain appeared before him: [Time remaining for Lifesaving Black Trench Coat repair: 1 minute]
"It looks like the system's description is accurate."
Fujino nodded with satisfaction and put it on.
If the system description is true, this item is definitely worthy of its purple quality.
After all, having a chance to save one's life is incredibly valuable.
Compared to other items, a chance to save one's life is obviously more precious.
"Though it's clearly a black trench coat... why does the system call it a Black Trench Coat?"
Fujino wondered aloud.
He shook his head and dismissed the thought.
Turning his attention back to Numazawa Kiichiro, who was now lying on the grass, bound with red rope in a special turtle shell knot...
"Wake up, the moon's about to shine on your backside!"
Fujino picked up a bucket of cold water and gave Numazawa Kiichiro a refreshing soak.
Numazawa Kiichiro was jolted awake by the cold water, trying to get up, but then fell back to the ground.
The turtle shell knot, while somewhat unsightly, was exceptionally effective for dealing with such fidgety individuals.
"Numazawa Kiichiro, I think it's time we had a good talk…"
Fujino put his Batman mask back on.
A cold smile curved his invisible lips.
His fingers interlocked, producing a series of crisp sounds...
(End of Chapter)